Welcome to Rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Rappler comes from the root words "rap" (to discuss) + "ripple" (to make waves).

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Three days before President Rodrigo Duterte's 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA), public school teachers in Bacolod City and neighboring localities trooped to the Fountain of Justice on Friday afternoon, July 20, to demand higher salaries. (READ: LIST: SONA 2018 activities, protests)

"The effect of TRAIN Law is devastating to the life of our teachers and government employees. Everyday prices of basic goods and services rise to the unreachable level. While higher income government employees and officials benefited the new tax reform law, lower income and unemployed Filipinos are now suffering from the 5.2% inflation rate," Dajao said.

He pointed out that teachers are supposed to be inside the classrooms with the school children. "However, the dire economic situation forces the teachers to go out on the streets to show collective action and be heard." (READ: StoryOfTheNation: What do you want to hear in SONA 2018?)

He added: "Our leaders dream of quality education without improving the plight of the teachers, a stupidity that they must realize. Who actually carry the tasks of educating the Filipino children? Aren't our teachers? With our teachers languishing in poverty, could they effectively deliver a quality education?" – Rappler.com

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Welcome to Rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Rappler comes from the root words "rap" (to discuss) + "ripple" (to make waves).